Urgent private sector intervention required to halt crisis in Govt. skills development and vocational training
Urgent private sector intervention is required to halt the unfolding crisis in government skills development and vocational training. The Cape Chamber calls on the national government to phase in industry-led skills training rather than squander further resources on misguided state programmes. The failure of government’s post-school education and training system is laid bare in a […]
‘Crony capture’ of government skills development programmes undermining fragile efforts to promote broad-based economic growth
‘Crony capture’ of government skills development programmes is undermining fragile efforts to promote broad-based economic growth. Mismanagement of this crucial resource has already caused a skills deficit as damaging to the economy as load shedding. Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), responsible for crucial vocational training, are a vital component of the country’s growth strategy. […]
Greater urgency is required to mitigate the negative impacts of US trade tariffs
Greater urgency is required to mitigate the negative impacts of US trade tariffs, and to identify possible opportunities arising from them. That’s the message from Western Cape Premier Alan Winde who spoke this week at a Cape Chamber business function in Cape Town. His address coincided with news of a 100% tariff on films made […]
Government’s approach to private security legislation adds further security risk to crime-ravaged neighbourhoods
New draft legislation introduced by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu seeks to tighten gun control and oversight over the burgeoning private security sector that is now a multi-billion industry – employing over 600 000 people. The proposed amendments come in the wake of a fatal gun battle between police and private bodyguards inside a popular Sandton […]
Significant trade disruption to be expected as a result of new US tariffs
South African can expect significant trade disruption resulting from the new US tariffs announced on Wednesday. However, the extent of the disruption remains unclear and could depend partly on how South Africa reacts. US export producing industries such as agriculture, automotive, mining and boatbuilding now find themselves in the firing line of the hefty 30% […]
The good news about the Budget speech was that it actually happened, other than that, it was a massive anticlimax
The good news about Wednesday’s 2025 Budget speech was that it actually happened – and was not delayed once again at great expense to the country’s wellbeing. Other than this, the Budget was a massive anticlimax. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and his treasury team have missed yet another opportunity to outline bold steps needed to […]
VAT increase would do far more harm than good – Chamber welcomes Governments last-minute decision to reconsider its budget priorities
The Cape Chamber welcomes Government’s last-minute decision to reconsider its budget priorities following contestation over a proposed 2% VAT increase. While the postponement is likely to cause market uncertainty, the impact of the 2% hike would have been far worse. We are hopeful that Government will use the delay to reformulate a budget that might […]
Finance Minister will need a magic wand to help deliver a budget this week capable of fulfilling SONAs promises
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will need a magic wand in his briefcase to help deliver a budget this week capable of fulfilling President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation promises. There is simply not enough tax revenue to give immediate effect to Ramaphosa’s wishful thinking, in particular the President’s projected 3% GDP annual growth. The […]
SONA 2025 shows once again how Government has failed to turn its words into wages
Image: South African Government The President’s latest State of the Nation Address shows once again how Government has failed to turn its words into wages. While few can doubt the lofty sentiments expressed, Ramaphosa’s speech belies the fact that the state of the nation remains mired in economic distress – a 5% increase in unemployment […]
A week is a long time in politics, especially this week
It was former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson who said ‘A week is a long time in politics’. That was in 1964 – when Donald Trump was barely out of his teens. These days a single day is a long time in politics. Events across the Atlantic are sure to weigh heavily on President Cyril […]